According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, there are currently m ore than 400,000 children in foster care in the United States. They range in age from infants to 21 years old (in some states.) According to www.adoptuskids.org Each year, roughly 20,000 youth will age out of the foster care system when they turn 18 or 21, or when they finish high school (depending upon the state in which they live.) These children are at increased risk of poor educational outcomes, experiencing homelessness, and being unemployed. Dr. Denise Fournier, LMHC is a psychotherapist, coach, facilitator, and adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University. Over the last 15 years, she's worked in numerous mental health settings, guiding several hundred people on their own unique growth journeys. Currently, Dr. Fournier owns and operates a private therapy practice, Evergreen Therapy, in Miami, FL. In addition to her work with clients, she also writes for Psychology Today and facilitates integrative healing events for diverse audiences. Her work, as well as her writing, center on the Eastern traditions of Buddhism and Taoism, which encourage a balanced, open, and accepting approach to life. She joined me this week to discuss the best way we can support adoption across America, giving foster kids a chance to succeed and we also tackled ways we can support the LGBTQ community. To learn more about Evergreen Therapy you can visit: https://evergreen-therapy.com/ Connect with Dr. Denise Fournier at denise@evergreen-therapy.com and Instagram @dr.denisefournier
